Mr. Rogers would feel right at home in Brookland.
Just four miles north of the Capitol, the close-knit confines of Ward 5’s Greater Brookland — embracing the Brookland, Michigan Park, North Michigan Park and Woodridge neighborhoods — are “a great example of Hometown, DC, where people live and work, play and worship together,” explains Anne Anderson, current president of the Greater Brookland Garden Club. “We care about each other and our diverse community.”
The club’s annual House and Garden Tour is a cherished institution that helps cultivate the intimate hometown feel that Anderson is talking about. Now in its 19th year, the tour welcomes visitors from all over the city to meet and greet residents. Tour-goers wander through a curated selection of homes and gardens where homeowners are on hand to patiently answer questions, provide gardening tips, and graciously offer snacks and drinks.
Held June 2, this year’s tour featured eight houses, of which four were mid-century moderns lovingly restored and renovated by their owners. Each house had its own variation on the garden theme — some more naturally landscaped than others, with a profusion of wildlife-friendly flowers, shrubs and trees.
We started our walkabout at 1355 Lawrence St. NE, where a garden of earthly delights was already crowded with appropriately wowed visitors. Sited on a third of an acre, this well-established garden rambles along three descending tiers. It contains multiple beds, which hold ground cover such as ferns and sedge, raspberry bushes, and flowering annuals and perennials (woodland poppies and black cohosh). Scattered throughout are piles of leaves and decoratively hollowed-out tree trunks offering refuge to songbirds, squirrels and other creatures.
We then made our way to 1001 Irving St. NE, where the only round house in DC is located. Built in 1901 and renovated and expanded in 2012, the gray scallop-shingled home with white trim resembles a crow’s nest on an old sailing ship (but roomier and more refined). Inside, the all-white open plan living/dining/kitchen space is defined by striking artwork and mid-century-modern furniture. Bisecting the round room is a floating staircase that leads to the bedrooms, and above the landing is a circular skylight with a view of the treetops. Outside, brick paths reminiscent of an English garden connect multiple plots filled with tomato plants, flowers and specimen trees.
A gargoyle greeted us at 1015 Kearny St. NE, a 100-year-old bungalow that marries vintage and contemporary design, combining original dark-wood molding and penny tile vestibule flooring with very of-the-moment two-tone kitchen cabinets, modern appliances and sleek bathrooms.
We wrapped up the day visiting two mid-century modern homes — both on the same block. The first, 1819 Upshur St. NE, a red-brick rambler with a turquoise door and star-shaped brass door knob, is sleek inside yet respectful of the home’s heritage (pink bathroom tile, anyone?). The trim garden features a comfortable deck and a “stock tank pool” for kid-friendly water activities.
Like its neighbor, 1801 Upshur St. NE was built in 1957. The red-brick facade of this Palm Springs atomic ranch features contrasting black panels whose geometric design focuses attention on the organic flow of the front yard. The open interior space leads from the living room to the dining area and kitchen. Like all homes of this genre, it celebrates the outdoors with a spacious back patio and rear garden abloom with container plants, herb and cutting gardens.
It’s no surprise that visitors return year after year to see what’s new on the Brookland House and Garden Tour. The homes are appealing and the gardens are lovely, but it’s the warmth of the residents that is most attractive. As Mary Pat Rowan, past president of the garden club, put it, “You don’t move into a house here. You move into a true community.”
The Gardens are GORGEOUS!